preparations for an elaborate breakfast, the unusual and early exercise having whetted their appetites until an ordinary amount of food seemed all too small to allay their hunger.

With but one stove, and that a small one, considerable time was required for the ordinary operations, therefore it was nearly noon before this very important portion of the day's duties had been finished.

"If you'll put the food away, Nat, and wash the dishes, Harry and I will try our luck on the screw. We must undress, of course, and I reckon it will be a cold job before we're through. You see..."

At that moment a rough-looking man came down the towpath, and, observing the yacht, turned in at the basin as if to make a social call.

He nodded familiarly, surveyed the Restless critically, and then said in a whining tone, as he stepped aboard without waiting for the formality of an invitation:

"Say, boys, can't you give a feller some of that 'ere grub? I'm a carpenter who has been on the tramp for a j